[35.08] Rapid bursts from GRS 1915+105 with RXTE

The lightcurves of GRS 1915+105 observed with RXTE on
October 15, 1996 reveal a wide range of transient activity
including regular bursts with a recurrence time of about 1
minute, irregular bursts, and dips. Of particular import
is the existence of a secondary (and sometime a third)
weaker burst immediately following the primary burst.
Detailed energy spectra indicate that the source softens
during the main outburst. This may imply that the accretion
flow has a corona-disk configuration and the energy
dissipated in the hot corona becomes relatively
smaller during the bursts. The primary
burst profile resembles the nonsteady behavior exhibited
by the time dependent evolution of accretion disks
which are thermally and viscously unstable.
The secondary burst may reflect an expansion of the
unstable disk region. Similarities with GRO J1744-28 and
the Rapid Burster will be discussed.